For the past several months the community has been very accommodating in dealing with the construction equipment on Rt. 32 near Hall Memorial School. For many years there has been discussion about improving the quality and pressure of water at the school. Last year the State Department of Public Health issued a consent order against the school because of the location of the well and its proximity to the oil storage tank. As a result of that consent order a STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) grant was acquired through the First Selectman’s office and construction began on bringing water from Connecticut Water Company in Tolland. A school construction grant was awarded to complete the project once the pipes reached the school property. On February 20 the final connections were made and the required tests were complete. The feedback from everyone at the school has been fantastic. Thank you to the many people who worked on the project and also thank you to those of you who supported it.

The National Education Association’s Read Across America Day is celebrated annually on March 2 to commemorate Dr. Seuss's birthday. This day is celebrated with great enthusiasm at Center Elementary School. The principal, Mr. Colin McNamara, even dons a Cat in the Hat outfit for the day. Guest speakers from the community were scheduled throughout the day to read to students. There were a number of rocking chairs lined up in the hallway for students to sit in while reading their favorite books. I had the pleasure of reading Dr Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who to Mrs. Steven’s first grade class. Everyone involved was pleased to see such excitement around literacy.

The HMS Girl’s Basketball team won an exciting game over Mansfield Middle School to become league champions. The game was close throughout with the HMS Falcons overcoming a five point deficit in the final two minutes. With only 10 seconds remaining in the game Morgan Stewart sank a shot from the corner to give the Lady Falcons a 45-44 victory. It was an incredibly hard fought win. It was a perfect ending to an amazing season. The Falcons ended their season with a record of 14-2. I was thrilled to be able to be at the game and cheer on our team. Congratulations to Coach Pinatti and his championship team!

On Thursday, March 13, the Board of Finance approved the 2008-2009 Board of Education budget of $7,594,202.00. This figure represents a 4.7% increase over last year’s budget. There will be a public hearing on April 7, town meeting on April 22 and the referendum is set for May 6. It is the support of the community that provides the resources necessary to maintain the high quality of services provided by Willington Public Schools. Our students need your continued support. I encourage you to vote on May 6. The polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

I recently attended a conference for educational leaders and had the privilege of hearing Frank McCourt, the Pulitzer Prize winning author, speak. As a former teacher he certainly had a sense of humor and plenty of stories to tell. He described teaching in the following manner.

“I was more than a teacher. And less,” McCourt said, reading from his latest book. “In the high school classroom you are a drill sergeant, a rabbi, a shoulder to cry on, a disciplinarian, a singer, a low-level scholar, a clerk, a referee, a clown, a counselor, a dress-code enforcer, a conductor, an apologist, a philosopher, a collaborator, a tap dancer, a politician, a therapist, a fool, a traffic cop, a priest, a mother-father-brother-sister-uncle-aunt, a bookkeeper, a critic, a psychologist, the last straw.”

As he finished his speech I stood and applauded as did everyone else in the room. The applause was for McCourt but also for all teachers who put so much into making a difference in the lives of children on a daily basis. As the year draws to a close consider taking a moment and thanking one of your child’s teachers for one of the many things they have done for your child this year.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Upcoming Events:
The seventh annual Willington PTA 5K and fun runs will be Saturday, May 24 at Center Elementary School. There will be a children’s ½ mile fun run at 9:00 a.m., a family 1 mile fun run at 9:30 a.m. and a 5K (3.1 miles) run/walk at 10:15am. Each fun run costs $5.00 per person and the 5K costs $15.00 if pre-registered by May 16th. Call CES Physical Education teacher Mr. Phil Stevens at 458-0019, or email him at willingtonpta_funrun@hotmail.com for an application.

This years’ HMS Spring concert will be held Wednesday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Jorgenson Auditorium at the University of Connecticut. Admission is free to the public and I encourage everyone to come to the concert. It is a fantastic venue and our music program has really come alive over the past few years.

Hall Memorial School’s bi-annual musical will take place April 10 and 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the HMS gymnasium. This year’s production is Into the Woods the award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The cost is $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for students and seniors.